Convertible top with trim covered panels

ABSTRACT

According to one aspect of the invention, a convertible top includes a plurality of panel assemblies movably coupled to each other for movement between a closed position in which the panel assemblies are arranged end to end to cover a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and an open position in which the panel assemblies are disposed in a storage space adjacent the passenger compartment. Each of the panel assemblies has an outer surface and a fabric trim cover separate from the other of the panel assemblies. The trim covers remain along the outer surface during movement of the top between the closed position and the open position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to convertible tops for motor vehicles. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a convertible top having panelseach individually covered by a respective fabric trim cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most vehicles have rigid roof structures that permanently extend overand cover the passenger compartment. Manufacturers also provide avariety of designs that offer the vehicle operator the opportunity topartially or completely uncover the passenger compartment. Sunroofs andmoonroofs are some of the simplest designs and offer the opportunity toopen a portion of the vehicle roof for increased airflow. Morecomplicated designs allow the entire roof structure to be retracted andstored behind the passenger compartment.

Retractable roof systems generally fall into two categories. The mostcommon type of retractable roof design is a convertible soft top orroof. These designs include an articulating structural framework with aflexible cloth or plastic outer skin. In an extended position, the frontend of the articulating framework connects to a header above the vehiclewindshield and the outer skin extends over the passenger compartment.When retracted, the articulating mechanism, along with the outer skin,folds into a compact shape. While convertible soft tops offer the choicebetween a covered or uncovered passenger compartment, they also sufferfrom several disadvantages in comparison to traditional rigid roofstructures. Vehicles with soft tops are typically less well sealedagainst the elements and road noise. They are also less resistant tobreak-in attempts and have a less finished interior appearance.

The other retractable roof design is a retractable or folding hardtoproof system. Retractable hardtops consist of one or more rigid roofelements that are mechanically articulated such that they can berepositioned into a storage area behind the passenger compartment.Because the retractable hardtop consists of rigid sections, the systemcan provide a much closer approximation of a traditional rigid roofstructure. In the extended position, a retractable hardtop securelycovers and seals the passenger compartment, giving the appearance of apermanent roof. A retractable hardtop does a significantly better job ofsealing the passenger compartment, reducing noise, and preventingbreak-ins.

In some markets, the look or appearance of a soft convertible top isdesired. It remains desirable to provide a convertible top design whichutilizes rigid roof elements and provides the appearance of a softconvertible top.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a convertible top for a motorvehicle includes a plurality of panel assemblies movably coupled to eachother for movement between a closed position in which the panelassemblies are arranged end to end to cover a passenger compartment of amotor vehicle and an open position in which the panel assemblies aredisposed in a storage space adjacent the passenger compartment. At leasta rearmost panel assembly of the plurality of panel assemblies is asubstantially rigid panel. Each of the panel assemblies has an outersurface and fabric trim cover separate from the other of the panelassemblies. The fabric trim cover covers the outer surface.

According to another aspect of the invention, a convertible top for amotor vehicle includes a first panel assembly and a second panelassembly. The first panel assembly has a first substrate and a firstfabric trim cover disposed along an outer surface of the firstsubstrate. The second panel assembly has a second substrate and a secondfabric trim cover disposed along an outer surface of the secondsubstrate. The first and second panel assemblies are movably coupled toeach other for movement between a closed position in which the panelassemblies are arranged end to end to cover a passenger compartment of amotor vehicle and an open position in which the panel assemblies aredisposed in a storage space adjacent the passenger compartment. Thefirst and second fabric trim covers remain disposed along the outersurfaces of the respective first and second substrates during themovement of the top between the closed and open positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as thesame becomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a convertible top motor vehicleaccording to one embodiment of the invention with the convertible topshown in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle with the top shown ina partially open position;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the motor vehicle as taken along aplane indicated at 3-3 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the motor vehicle as taken along aplane indicated at 4-4 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, a convertible top for a motor vehicle 10 isgenerally indicated at 20. The top 20 is movable between a closedposition covering a passenger compartment 12 in the vehicle 10 and anopen position retracted into storage space 14 adjacent to the passengercompartment 12. The top 20 includes a plurality of panel assemblies 30movably coupled to each other for movement between the closed position,in which the panel assemblies 30 are arranged end to end covering thepassenger compartment 12, and an open position, in which the panelassemblies 30 are disposed in the storage space 14 adjacent thepassenger compartment 12.

In one embodiment, at least a rearmost panel assembly 24 of theplurality of panel assemblies 30 includes a substantially rigidsubstrate 32. The remaining panel assemblies 30 forward of the rearmostpanel assembly 24 may include a substantially rigid substrate or an“open” rigid frame structure. In the illustrated embodiment, therearmost panel assembly includes a rear window 25 disposed therein.

In the illustrated embodiment, a front panel assembly 22 of theplurality of panel assemblies 30 is pivotally coupled to the rear panelassembly 24 in a “clamshell” arrangement for movement between the closedand open positions.

In the illustrated embodiment, each panel assembly 30 includes adimensionally stable substrate 32 formed to provide the general overallshape of the panel assembly 30. Each substrate 32 has upper 38 and lower40 surfaces that extend between opposite front 34 and rear ends 36thereof. Each panel assembly 30 also includes a respective fabric trimcover 50 for substantially covering the upper surface 38. Each fabrictrim cover 50 has opposite and spaced apart front 52 and rear 54 edges.

In the illustrated embodiment, the front 52 and rear 54 edges of thefabric trim cover 50 are wrapped around the respective front 34 and rear36 ends of the substrate 30 and secured to the lower surface 40 of thesubstrate 30. The fabric trim cover 50 may be formed of woven ornon-woven textile, vinyl, leather or other suitable flexible materialsknown by persons having ordinary skill in the art.

The fabric trim cover 50 extends along the upper surface 38 of thesubstrate 32. The fabric trim cover 50 is tensioned against and/orfixedly secured to the upper surface 38 of the substrate 32. By thisarrangement, the fabric trim cover 50 remains adjacent to the uppersurface 38 of the substrate 32 during movement of the top 20 between theclosed and open positions.

A flexible seal 60 is disposed along an end 34 of one of the panelassemblies 30 for providing a seal between adjacent panel assemblies 30in the closed position. Further, any suitable water drainage arrangementknown by those skilled in the art may be used for directing water awayfrom a gap between adjacent panel assemblies to prevent water fromentering the passenger compartment.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is,therefore, to be understood that the terminology used is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Manymodifications and variations of the invention are possible in light ofthe above teachings. For example, the panel assemblies of the top may bemovably coupled to each other in any suitable way known by those havingordinary skill in the art, such as by a simple pivot, multi-link hingesand/or slidable coupling. Further, the top may be power actuated ormanually operated. Further still, more than two panel assemblies for thetop may be utilized. Thus, within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

1. A convertible top comprising: a plurality of panel assemblies beingmovably coupled to each other for movement between a closed position inwhich the panel assemblies are arranged end to end to cover a passengercompartment of a motor vehicle and an open position in which the panelassemblies are disposed in a storage space adjacent the passengercompartment, at least a rearmost panel assembly of the plurality ofpanel assemblies being a substantially rigid panel; each of the panelassemblies having an outer surface and a fabric trim cover separate fromthe other of the panel assemblies, the fabric trim cover covering asubstantial portion of the outer surface.
 2. A convertible top as setforth in claim 2, wherein at least the rearmost panel assembly of theplurality of assemblies includes a substrate having a front end and anopposite rear end, the fabric trim cover having a front edge and anopposite rear edge, the front and rear edges of the fabric trim coverbeing generally aligned with the front and rear ends of the substrate,respectively.
 3. A convertible top as set forth in claim 2, whereinportions of the fabric trim cover along the front and rear edges arewrapped around the respective front and rear ends of the substrate andsecured to a lower surface of the substrate.
 4. A convertible top as setforth in claim 1, wherein the fabric trim covers remaining disposed onthe outer surfaces of the panel assemblies during movement of the topbetween the closed and open positions.
 5. A convertible top as set forthin claim 1, wherein the fabric trim covers are tensioned against theouter surfaces of the panel assemblies.
 6. A convertible top as setforth in claim 1, wherein the fabric trim cover are fixedly secured tothe outer surfaces of the panel assemblies.
 7. A convertible top as setforth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of panel assemblies comprise afront panel assembly and the rearmost panel assembly, the front panelassembly being pivotally coupled to the rearmost panel assembly suchthat the panel assemblies clamshell together when disposed in thestorage space.
 8. A convertible top as set forth in claim 1, wherein therearmost panel assembly has a rear window disposed therein.
 9. Aconvertible top as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fabric trim coversare made from a textile material.
 10. A convertible top as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the fabric trim covers are made from a vinyl material.11. A convertible top comprising: a first panel assembly having a firstsubstrate and a first fabric trim cover disposed along an outer surfaceof the first substrate; and a second panel assembly having a secondsubstrate and a second fabric trim cover disposed along an outer surfaceof the second substrate, the first and second panel assemblies beingmovably coupled to each other for movement between a closed position inwhich the panel assemblies are arranged end to end to cover a passengercompartment of a motor vehicle and an open position in which the panelassemblies are disposed in a storage space adjacent the passengercompartment, the first and second fabric trim covers remaining disposedalong the outer surfaces of the respective first and second substratesduring the movement of the top between the closed and open positions.12. A convertible top as set forth in claim 11, wherein the substrate ofeach panel has a front end and an opposite rear end.
 13. A convertibletop as set forth in claim 12, wherein each fabric trim cover has a frontedge and an opposite rear edge, the front and rear edges of the fabrictrim cover being generally aligned with the front and rear ends of thesubstrate, respectively.
 14. A convertible top as set forth in claim 13,wherein portions of the fabric trim cover along the front and rear edgesare wrapped around the respective front and rear ends of the substrateand secured to a lower surface of the substrate.
 15. A convertible topas set forth in claim 11, wherein each substrate has an upper surfaceand an opposite bottom surface, the fabric trim covers remainingdisposed along the upper surfaces of the substrates during movement ofthe top between the closed and open positions.
 16. A convertible top asset forth in claim 15, wherein each fabric trim cover is tensionedagainst the upper surface of the respective substrate.
 17. A convertibletop as set forth in claim 15, wherein each fabric trim cover is fixedlysecured to the upper surface of the respective substrate.
 18. Aconvertible top as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first and secondpanel assemblies are pivotally coupled to each other.
 19. A convertibletop as set forth in claim 11, wherein the fabric trim covers are madefrom a textile material.
 20. A convertible top as set forth in claim 11,wherein the fabric trim covers are made from a vinyl material.